CBC readers, SMU alumni react to frosh week sex chant

[&amp;lt;a href="//storify.com/cbccommunity/cbc-viewers-smu-alumni-react-to-frosh-week-rape-ch" target="_blank"&amp;gt;View the story "CBC readers, SMU alumni react to frosh week rape chant" on Storify&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;]&amp;lt;h1&amp;gt;CBC readers, SMU alumni react to frosh week rape chant&amp;lt;/h1&amp;gt;&amp;lt;h2&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/h2&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;Storified by &amp;lt;a href="http://storify.com/cbccommunity"&amp;gt;CBC News Community&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;amp;middot; Thu, Sep 05 2013 07:24:37&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;A cheer about rape and underage sex performed during the Saint Mary's University's frosh week has elicited a strong reaction from CBCNews.ca readers, with the vast majority condemning the students for going along with the cheer. &amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;p&amp;gt;The chant spells out the word 'young,' and includes the lines: "Y is for your sister ...&amp;amp;nbsp;U is for underage, N is for no consent ...&amp;amp;nbsp;Saint Mary's boys we like them young."&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/p&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Our story on the outrage about the video of the chant -- posted on social media, but later deleted -- has nearly 600 comments. &amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;"Orientation week leaders lead this disgusting 'cheer'? Am I reading that right? It's time for new leadership folks. Anyone that led this type of cheer 'for years' and thought it was appropriate needs much more than sensitivity training,"&amp;amp;nbsp;said &amp;lt;a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html#vf-5583400000037" class=""&amp;gt;sdhirt.&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;"I wonder if the guys really listen to what they are yelling and understand the implications? If so, they are too are vapid and immature to be in university. If not, then they need to learn to think for themselves instead of following the mooing herd."&amp;amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Nothing says &amp;amp;quot;welcome to our school&amp;amp;quot; like cheering about non-consensual sex with little girls. Way to go SMU. http://cbc.sh/ehlhpVGLiberal Linda&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;"Actually this article has given me hope. Most of us are not going to stand for this behaviour any longer and are willing to complain and protest. Just a bit o' fun, eh? All these supposed adults cheering on the idea of pedophilia. It makes me sick. This isn't fun, it's more verbal bullying under the guise of male bonding," said &amp;lt;a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html#vf-8442300000041" class=""&amp;gt;Mrs Dressup.&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;We posted the story on the CBC News Facebook page last night and received more reaction there. &amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Saint Mary's University is promising disciplinary action after a frosh week chant glorifying underage sex with girls without consent was posted online, CBC News Halifax reports.&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt; Read more here: &amp;amp;lt;a href=&amp;amp;quot;http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fcbc.sh%2FGp74eJk&amp;amp;amp;h=NAQGMOXP2&amp;amp;amp;enc=AZNj-s6bgR-PV17-i6WGE1V5aP7Yz2rIJc7kgpazLJJ2ZzGXJLXhYlda-3jfhNy6q1gDmrKSc695UPr477g75Ws-E7SBc_G3D33lchXFiCCvZc5sPRvvNHDZi1m14tFEHSjX0gx3ZHl8T-tZMI6pxDk4&amp;amp;amp;s=1&amp;amp;quot; class=&amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;quot;&amp;amp;gt;http://cbc.sh/Gp74eJk&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt; &amp;amp;lt;br&amp;amp;gt; Do you think students are missing the point about sexual violence?CBC News&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; That's pathetic, disgraceful, embarrassing, deplorable, unsightly, disgusting, horrifying, but most importantly of all, NOT FUNNY.Patrick Rushton&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; This is a learning moment for all of these students. A moment that their educators at SMU have to pounce on and ensure they make the point swiftly and with no hesitation. The intent of the students is irrelevant - they sang in front of 17-19 year olds that sex without consent is what you want as a SMU student. Whether fun or proponents of rape -- the message needs to be clear it is unacceptable. Time for higher education! Jennifer Lake&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; How is it anyone is okay with even chanting this stuff? Women or men? It's a sad day when students promoting RAPE is called an &amp;amp;quot;oversight&amp;amp;quot; by an institution of higher learning. Just pathetic. So much for St. Mary's reputation for generations to come, and rightly so.Brian White&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; This is not just a SMU problem. This is a problem with our whole North American culture and media is the biggest culprit.Lesa Lal&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; They r kids saying a chant that has been used b4. It isn't right. But just cause they are saying it doesn't mean they are doing it.Crystal Staples Bradshaw&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;This morning on CBC News Network, Michael Serapio reported on your reaction to the orientation week chant at the Halifax university. &amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;#Frosh chant at St. Mary's U causing national outrage. Critics say it encourages sexual assault of minors. Details on #CBCNews #CBCNN #SMUMichael Serapio&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;@CBCNews @MichaelSerapio it encourages violence against women, rape, and dehumanizes people. This is very serious.YWAM Truro&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;@CBCNews @MichaelSerapio It is Disturbing yes, but mostly very disrespectful of the victims and families as we know there are some in NS.Nancy B&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Some people used social media to take the CBC to task for our language in our story. &amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;It's called rape @cbcnews, not &amp;amp;quot;underage sex.&amp;amp;quot; http://bit.ly/15vIUu3 #fem2 #NotBuyingIt http://twitter.com/imransiddiquee/status/375386114351063040/photo/1Imran Siddiquee&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;@CBCNews The word you're looking for is #rape.Sheila M.&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;@CBCNews Do society a favor and call it what it is -RAPE! You help perpetuate the problem by trying to make a disgusting situation palatableS. Leuther&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; CBC, call it what it is: A chant for rape. This is the most blatant example of rape culture. Get rid of perpetrators, get rid of apologists.Alex Felicitas&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Hey @cbcns and @SMUHalifaxNews , set an example and call it what it is, sex without consent= rape. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html #ns #rapecultureAnnie Morrison&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;We received a lot of response from current and former students of Saint Mary's University. Alumni expressed their disappointment on our comments and on Twitter. &amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;At this moment I am disappointed to be an alumni from SMU. Hopefully the Frosh leaders do not leave a lasting impact on the new students," said &amp;lt;a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html#vf-6711800014555" class=""&amp;gt;SMU Grad 2002. &amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;"Do I ever feel red-faced embarrassed as a fellow SMU alum. Class of 1991 doesn't recall using that chant, thank goodness," said &amp;lt;a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html#vf-5791600000038" class=""&amp;gt;luv2run&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Pretty disgusted with the #almamater "@CBCNews: http://cbc.sh/ehlhpVG @MichaelSerapio: #Frosh chant at #SMU causing national outrage.Daniel Ehman&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;Some current students also replied, many saying that all SMU students shouldn't be tarred with the same brush. &amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; I go to SMU. Trust me, this is NOT representative of our student population. I don't KNOW why this even happened. It is not MY chant. It is not our chant. I don't understand. I just...argh.Linda Hulme Leahy&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;"I remember this from last year when I was in frosh. refused to chant it. I'm really glad action was taken," wrote &amp;lt;a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html#vf-3021700000038" class=""&amp;gt;Dylan Hill&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt; &amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;"I am attending smu now.. and yes this was a super inappropriate cheer to do it has been going on for almost 10 years here (I'm still not saying it's right) all I wanted to say is that people should back off the current frosh leaders who did the cheer this week, they feel bad enough and all this news and social media and PUBLIC BASHING of this is NO BETTER," said &amp;lt;a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html#vf-8914500000035" class=""&amp;gt;think about it. &amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;"I was a SMU student and I was a frosh leader (when this cheer was being used)and I never participated in this cheer. I thought it was disgusting and said so to those that I was with. I agree that this cheer is awful, insensitive and inappropriate but it is unfair to blame every frosh leader," said &amp;lt;a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html#vf-8199600000053" class=""&amp;gt;SMUdent&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;"So basically the comments that I've read suggest that every Saint Mary's student should be questioned by police and/or expelled due to a harmless chant that was used for years. Yes, some parts are bad but as a frosh student you don't take it seriously," said &amp;lt;a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html#vf-10719300000039" class=""&amp;gt;2nd year SMUdent&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;"I am a proud SMU freshman - I love this school so far, and have been having an amazing time during frosh. However, I was appalled when I heard the cheer being sung at Turfburn. It's important to know though that before the chanting began, many of the frosh leaders were saying that they themselves did not want to sing it, saying that it was 'disgusting,'"&amp;amp;nbsp;said &amp;lt;a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2013/09/04/ns-smu-chant-underage-sex.html#vf-5316500000041" class=""&amp;gt;Jenna Benoit&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;.&amp;amp;nbsp;"Tradition holds a strong place here at SMU - I'm not glorifying the chant itself and saying that it's okay, because it's not - I'm trying to say that it's important that all of the blame does not fall on the frosh leaders. They are expected to uphold tradition and be enthusiastic about everything that they do - even if it is something that they do not agree with."&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;div&amp;gt;&amp;lt;b&amp;gt;Thank you for sharing your reaction to the video and to our coverage of the story. &amp;lt;/b&amp;gt;&amp;lt;br&amp;gt;&amp;lt;/div&amp;gt;

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